Environmental Sci Intro

8/9/2019 Environmental Sci Intro

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EnvironmentalEnvironmentalProblems, Their Causes,Problems, Their Causes,

and Sustainabilityand Sustainability


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Lecture Overview QuestionsLecture Overview Questions

What keeps us alive?What keeps us alive?What is an environmentally sustainableWhat is an environmentally sustainable

society?society?

How fast is the human population growing?How fast is the human population growing?

What is the difference between economicWhat is the difference between economic

growth, economic development, andgrowth, economic development, andenvironmentally sustainable economicenvironmentally sustainable economicdevelopment?development?


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Lecture Overview Questions (contd)Lecture Overview Questions (contd)

What are the harmful environmental effectsWhat are the harmful environmental effectsof poverty and affluence?of poverty and affluence?What three major human cultural changesWhat three major human cultural changeshave taken place since humans arrived?have taken place since humans arrived?What are the four scientific principles of What are the four scientific principles of sustainability and how can we use them andsustainability and how can we use them and

shared visions to build more environmentallyshared visions to build more environmentallysustainable and just societies during thissustainable and just societies during thiscentury?century?


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Living in an Exponential AgeLiving in an Exponential AgeHuman population growth:Human population growth:

J J -shaped curve-shaped curve

Figure 1Figure 1


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Fig. 1

IndustrialRevolution

?

Agricultural revolutionHunting andGathering

B i l l i o n s o

f

p e o p l e

Time

Black Deaththe Plague


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LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLYLIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY

the study of how the earth works, how wethe study of how the earth works, how weinteract with the earth and how to deal withinteract with the earth and how to deal with

environmental problems.environmental problems.


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Air (atmosphere)

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Human CulturesphereEarth's Life-Support System

Politics

PopulationSize

Worldviewsand ethics

EconomicsLife

(biosphere)

Soil androcks

(lithosphere)

Water (hydrosphere)

Fig. 2


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What is Environmental Science?What is Environmental Science?

The goals of environmental science are toThe goals of environmental science are tolearn:learn:

1. how nature works.1. how nature works.

2. how the environment effects us.2. how the environment effects us.3. how we effect the environment.3. how we effect the environment.4. how we can live more sustainably without4. how we can live more sustainably without

degrading our life-support system.degrading our life-support system.


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SustainabilitySustainability , is the ability of earths various, is the ability of earths varioussystems to survive and adapt tosystems to survive and adapt toenvironmental conditions indefinitely.environmental conditions indefinitely.The steps to sustainability must beThe steps to sustainability must besupported by sound science.supported by sound science. Figure 3Figure 3

Sustainability: The Integrative ThemeSustainability: The Integrative Theme


10/46Fig. 3

Sound Science

A Path to SustainabilityIndividuals

Matter Trade-OffsSolutionsNatural Capital

DegradationNatural Capital


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Environmentally Sustainable SocietiesEnvironmentally Sustainable Societies

meets basic needs of its people in a justmeets basic needs of its people in a justand equitable manner without degrading theand equitable manner without degrading the

natural capital that supplies these resources.natural capital that supplies these resources. Figure 4Figure 4


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NATURAL RESOURCE SERVICES

Fig. 1-4, p. 9

+=NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL SERVICES

NATURAL CAPITAL NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL SERVICES

Air Air purification

Water purification

Water storage

Soil renewal

Nutrient recycling

Food productionConservation of biodiversity

Wildlife habitatGrassland andforest renewal

Waste treatment

Climate controlPopulation control(species interactions

Pest Control

NATURAL CAPITAL = +

Water

Soil

Land

Nonrenewableminerals(iron, sand)

Life (Biodiversity)

Renewable energysun, wind, water flows

Nonrenewableenergy (fossil fuels,nuclear power)

NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL SERVICES


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NATURAL CAPITAL

NATURAL CAPITAL

NATURAL RESOURCES

NATURAL RESOURCES

Air Water

Soil

Land

Life (biodiversity)

Nonrenewable minerals(iron, sand)

Renewable energy(sun, wind, water flows)

Nonrenewable energy(fossil fuels, nuclear power)

NATURAL SERVICES

NATURAL CAPITAL

Air purification

Water purification

Soil renewal

Nutrient recycling

Food production

Pollination

Grassland renewal

Forest renewal

Waste treatment

Climate Control

Population control(species interactions)Pest control

Stepped Art

=

=

+

+

Fig. 4


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POPULATION GROWTH,POPULATION GROWTH,ECONOMIC GROWTH, ANDECONOMIC GROWTH, AND

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTEconomic growthEconomic growth provides people with moreprovides people with moregoods and services.goods and services.

Measured inMeasured in gross domestic product (GDP)gross domestic product (GDP) andandpurchasing power parity (PPP).purchasing power parity (PPP).

Economic development uses economicEconomic development uses economic

growth togrowth to improve living standards.improve living standards.The worlds countries economic statusThe worlds countries economic status(developed vs. developing)(developed vs. developing) are basedare based on their on their degree of industrialization and GDP-PPP.degree of industrialization and GDP-PPP.


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Global OutlookGlobal Outlook

Comparison of Comparison of developed anddeveloped anddeveloping countries.developing countries.

Figures 5 and 6Figures 5 and 6


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Percentage of World's

Population

Developing countriesDeveloped countries

Pollutionand waste

Resourceuse

Wealth andIncome

PopulationGrowth

18

82

0.1

1.5

85

15

12

75

25

88


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RESOURCESRESOURCES

Perpetual Perpetual :: On a human time scale areOn a human time scale arecontinuous.continuous.RenewableRenewable :: On a human time scale can beOn a human time scale can be

replenished rapidly (e.g. hours to severalreplenished rapidly (e.g. hours to severaldecades).decades).NonrenewableNonrenewable :: On a human time scale areOn a human time scale are

in fixed supply.in fixed supply.


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Nonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable Resources

Exist as fixed quantityExist as fixed quantityBecomes economicallyBecomes economicallydepleted.depleted.

Recycling and reusingRecycling and reusingextends supplyextends supply

Recycling processes wasteRecycling processes waste

material into new material.material into new material.Reuse is using a resourceReuse is using a resourceover again in the same form.over again in the same form.


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Our Ecological FootprintOur Ecological Footprint

Humanitys ecologicalHumanitys ecologicalfootprint has exceededfootprint has exceededearths ecologicalearths ecologicalcapacity.capacity. Figure 7Figure 7


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Total Footprint (million hectares) andShare of Global Ecological Capacity (%)

United States2,810 (25%)

European Union2,160 (19%)

China2,050 (18%)

India 780 (7%)

Japan 540 (5%)


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Footprint Per Person(hectares per person)

United States 9.7

4.7European Union

1.6China

India

Japan

0.8

4.8


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NumberofEarths

H u m a n i t

y ' s E c o l o g

i c a l F o

o t p r i n t

EarthsEcologicalCapacity

Year


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POLLUTIONPOLLUTION

Found at high enoughFound at high enoughlevels in thelevels in the

environment to causeenvironment to causeharm to organisms.harm to organisms.

Point sourcePoint source

Nonpoint sourceNonpoint source

Figure 8Figure 8


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PollutionPollution

Pollutants can have three types of unwantedPollutants can have three types of unwantedeffects:effects:Can disrupt / degrade life-support systems.Can disrupt / degrade life-support systems.Can damage health and property.Can damage health and property.Can create nuisances such as noise andCan create nuisances such as noise andunpleasant smells, tastes, and sights.unpleasant smells, tastes, and sights.


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:CAUSES AND CONNECTIONSCAUSES AND CONNECTIONSThe major causes of environmentalThe major causes of environmentalproblems are:problems are:

1. Population growth1. Population growth2. Wasteful resource use2. Wasteful resource use3. Poverty3. Poverty4. Poor environmental accounting4. Poor environmental accounting

5. Ecological ignorance5. Ecological ignorance


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Fig. 10

Depletion of nonrenewable resources

SOLARCAPITAL

Human Capital Human

EconomicandCulturalSystems

Pollution and waste

Degradation of renewable resources

Heat

Goods and services

Natural Capital

EARTH


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Natural capital degradationNatural capital degradation

The exponential increasing flowThe exponential increasing flow of materialof materialresources through the worlds economicresources through the worlds economicsystemssystems depletes, degrades and pollutesdepletes, degrades and pollutes thethe

environment.environment. Figure 11Figure 11


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Fig. 11

Causes of Environmental Problems

Trying to manageand simplify nature

with too littleknowledge about

how it works

Not including theenvironmental costsof economic goodsand services in their market prices

PovertyUnsustainableresource use

Populationgrowth


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Solutions: Prevention vs. CleanupSolutions: Prevention vs. Cleanup

Problems with relying on cleanup:Problems with relying on cleanup:Temporary bandage without improvements inTemporary bandage without improvements incontrol technology.control technology.Often removes a pollutant from one part of theOften removes a pollutant from one part of theenvironment to cause problems in another.environment to cause problems in another.Pollutants at harmful levels can cost too much toPollutants at harmful levels can cost too much toreduce them to acceptable levels.reduce them to acceptable levels.


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Poverty and Environmental ProblemsPoverty and Environmental Problems

1 of 3 children1 of 3 childrenunder 5, suffer under 5, suffer from severefrom severe

malnutrition.malnutrition.

Figure 12 and 13Figure 12 and 13

Number of peopleL k f


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Fig. 12

1.1 billion (17%)

1.1 billion (17%)

1.1 billion (17%)

Enough food

for good health

Adequatehealth care

Clean drinkingWater

Enough fuel for heating and

cooking

Electricity

AdequateSanitation

Number of people(% of world's population)

Lack of access to

1.6 billion (25%)

2 billion (31%)

2.4 billion (37%)


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Resource Consumption andResource Consumption andEnvironmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems

UnderconsumptionUnderconsumptionOverconsumptionOverconsumption

AffluenzaAffluenza : unsustainable addiction to: unsustainable addiction tooverconsumption and materialism.overconsumption and materialism.


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Connections between EnvironmentalConnections between EnvironmentalProblems and Their CausesProblems and Their Causes

Figure 14Figure 14


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Fig. 14

Developing Countries

Population (P)Consumption

per person(affluence, A)

Technological impactper unit of

consumption (T)

Environmentalimpact of

population (I)

Developed Countries


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CULTURAL CHANGES AND THECULTURAL CHANGES AND THEENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

Agricultural revolutionAgricultural revolutionAllowed people to stay in one place.Allowed people to stay in one place.

Industrial-medical revolutionIndustrial-medical revolution

Led shift from rural villages to urban society.Led shift from rural villages to urban society.Science improved sanitation and disease control.Science improved sanitation and disease control.

Information-globalization revolutionInformation-globalization revolutionRapid access to information.Rapid access to information.


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Which singleWhich singleadvantage andadvantage anddisadvantage aredisadvantage arethe most important?the most important?

Figure 15Figure 15

Trade-Offs


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Fig. 15,

Industrial-Medical Revolution

Advantages DIsadvantages

Mass production of useful

and affordable products

Higher standard of livingfor many

Greatly increasedagricultural production

Lower infant mortality

Longer life expectancy

Increased urbanization

Lower rate of

population growth

Increased air pollution

Increased waste pollution

Soil depletion anddegradation

Groundwater depletion

Habitat destruction anddegradation

Biodiversity depletion

Increased water pollution

SUSTAINABILITY ANDSUSTAINABILITY AND


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SUSTAINABILITY ANDSUSTAINABILITY ANDENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWSENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS

Technological optimists:Technological optimists:suggest that human ingenuity will keep thesuggest that human ingenuity will keep theenvironment sustainable.environment sustainable.

Environmental pessimists:Environmental pessimists:overstate the problems where our environmentaloverstate the problems where our environmentalsituation seems hopeless.situation seems hopeless.


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Four Scientific Principles of Four Scientific Principles of Sustainability: Copy NatureSustainability: Copy Nature

Reliance on Solar Reliance on Solar

EnergyEnergyBiodiversityBiodiversityPopulation ControlPopulation Control

Nutrient RecyclingNutrient Recycling

Figure 16Figure 16


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Fig. 16

Reliance onSolar Energy

Population ControlNutrient Recycling

Biodiversity


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Aldo Leopolds Environmental EthicsAldo Leopolds Environmental Ethics

Individuals matter.Individuals matter. land is to be lovedland is to be lovedand respected is anand respected is anextension of ethics.extension of ethics.We abuse landWe abuse landbecause we regard itbecause we regard itas a commodityas a commodity

Figure 1-AFigure 1-A

l f h f


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Implications of the Four ScientificImplications of the Four ScientificPrinciples of SustainabilityPrinciples of Sustainability

Figures 17 and 18Figures 17 and 18

Solutions


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Fig. 17

Reduce human birthsand wasteful resourceuse to preventenvironmental overloadand depletion anddegradation of resources.

Controls a speciespopulation size andresource use byinteractions with itsenvironment andother species.

Runs on renewable

solar energy.

Rely mostly on renewable

solar energy.

Recycles nutrientsand wastes. Thereis little waste innature.

Uses biodiversity tomaintain itself andadapt to new environ-mental conditions.

Prevent and reducepollution and recycleand reuse resources.

Preserve biodiversityby protecting ecosystemservices and habitatsand preventingpremature extinction of species.

Principles of Sustainability

How Nature Works Lessons for Us


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Fig. 18


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Environmental Sci Intro